2025 NHL Draft – Players to Watch at WJC – Hockey Writers – World Junior Hockey Championship

The World Junior Championship is always full of top NHL-drafted talent. Although it is known for being a 19-year-old tournament, there are always performances from young players who are also preparing for the NHL draft.

A few years ago, there was some great art by Connor Bedard. Last year, we got a good look at what Macklin Celebrini could do as the first overall pick, and Zeev Buium was great as the right player to help Team USA capture gold.

It's always difficult for draft-eligible players to split the roster given the number of returning players from last year. But, if the talent and skill is there, it's hard to pass that up and not have them on the list. These players have made their presence felt in the camp and deserve the opportunity to represent their country. Here are the 2025 draft-eligible players to watch at the 2025 World Junior Championship.

James Hagens, C – United States

A potential first-round pick in 2025 and despite a strong start with Boston College, James Hagens hasn't completely cemented that spot. However, he definitely has some competition to start the season. He has five goals and 15 assists in 16 games, which is impressive and he has a chance to make a difference in this competition.

Hagens has the best hockey sense. He knows exactly where to be to open things up, draw players and create play when he has the puck. He is extremely intelligent and versatile in possession, excelling in tight spaces and his quickness allows him to easily beat defenders one-on-one. When he's on a line with teammates and returners Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault, he has that advantage and familiarity to dominate this competition with his high-level playmaking skills.

Porter Martone, RW – Canada

It is no surprise that every time he plays in an international tournament, Porter Martone always stands out in a positive way as a leader. He was Canada's co-captain at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last year and is Canada's captain at the 2024 World U18 Championship. As a young player in those tournaments taking on a lead role, he thrived in it as he was productive offensively, winning the gold medal. Currently, he is second in the Ontario Hockey League with 54 points in 26 games.

Related: Guide to the 2025 World Junior Championship

Martone's play and impact will be felt as he will be relied upon in a six-man role. He has a great and strong forward force that is always in the middle of everything; a board fight, a scuffle in front of the net or even after the whistle blows it with the opponents. He has the intelligence, skill and motivation to win and is always in attack mode in the attacking zone. He is a winner and it shows whenever he is on the ice.

Matthew Schaefer, D – Canada

Matthew Schaefer was easily one of the best players and defensemen between the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the CHL/ USA Prospects Challenge. Despite missing the start of the OHL season due to mono, he continues to be cut above the rest of the competition. As a result, he made his case to go first overall in the 2025 Draft.

Schaefer is more confident in the back when he has the puck. From changing the speed of his speed on the run to showing great hands and puck skills to get around defenders when attacking with purpose, he is a catalyst and gets results. He's very mature for his age and the fact that he's an eligible Canadian defensive end says it all for his game. He's talented, smart defensively and puts it off the line. He is beautiful like that.

Victor Eklund, LW – Sweden

Like his brother William, Victor quickly made a name for himself in his draft year as he was highly productive (15 points in 24 games) with Djurgårdens IF of the HockeyAllsvenskan. Not only that, he is starting to overtake Anton Frondell as the best Swedish player in this class. Being on the big stage of the World Junior Championship is a great way to improve his stock.

Related: 2025 Sweden World Cup Final List

Eklund's game is built on high-level intelligence and strong play speed. He is very similar to his brother in that regard and matches his style of work, showing quick puck movement and being in good position to stop plays. He is very quick and agile when he creates bursts of speed in the mid lane and he attacks aggressively with sticks and fast decks. Playing with players older than him in league games should continue where he plays compared to his team.

Logan Hensler, D – United States

Considering how deep Team USA is on defense, I thought Logan Hensler might not be a good fit for this program. However, he made the team and although he could be in a deeper role, he could still provide a spark and impact from the USA backend.

It's been a transition season for Hensler with the Wisconsin Badgers in the NCAA as he has seven assists in 17 games and has been inconsistent at times. When he's on his game, he's a smooth and mobile defenseman with good puck movement and a solid transition game. Off the puck, he is quick to close gaps and uses his long reach to effectively break up plays. He would be a strong two-way force and his game could benefit an already deep blueline for the Americans.

Topias Hynninen, C – Finland

Even if you make it through the NHL draft, it's not the end for some junior players to prove their worth. It worked last year with Jesse Pulkkinen as his strong showing in the tournament put him on the map and he was selected by the New York Islanders 54.^th general. This year, Topias Hynninen– who should have been nominated in 2024– can follow in his footsteps.

Hynninen has been playing for Jukurit in the Liiga for 18 years and has 24 points in 32 games and 14 in the last 10. puck battles are what draw teams to his game right now. He has good vision on both sides of the puck and is always in a position to make something happen. Although Finland has the likes of Konsta Helenius and Kasper Halttunen, expect Hynninen to be a big part of the offense as well.

Luka Radivojevic, D – Slovakia

The son of former NHLer Branko, Luka jumped from Sweden to the USHL, signing with the Muskegon Lumberjacks. Radivojevic excelled last year at the tournament as a 16-year-old and had a point per player at the World U18 Championship with six assists in six games. He is a strong and agile skater and processes the game very quickly. He is strong in his passing and quick in his movement and play in the attacking area. If he makes it to his second WJC, expect him to take another step toward Slovakia.

Other Words to Watch

Jack Ivankovic, G-Canada
Vojtech Cihar, LW – Czechia
Carlos Händel, D – Germany
David Lewandowski, C – Germany
Bruno Osmanis, RW – Latvia
Tomas Pobezal, C – Slovakia

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